Jeanette Manfra

The Homeland Security Department is working with the administration to support President Donald Trump’s cyber priorities, including protection of critical infrastructure and strengthening the cyber workforce.

The Department of Homeland Security told Congress Tuesday that it’s seeing significant dividends from a new legal authority Congress granted the department in 2014: the ability to force other federal agencies to take concrete steps to improve their cybersecurity posture.

Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) is getting closer to introducing a bill to create a stand-alone cybersecurity agency in DHS, while the agency also is conducting an internal review of current capabilities and future needs.

Jeanette Manfra, the acting deputy undersecretary for cybersecurity at the Homeland Security Department, offered an in-depth look into the steps DHS and the government took to keep federal agencies safe from WannaCry.